Regardless of how your muscle building program is structured, the ultimate factor that determines your muscle development is progressive overload -- gradually increasing your weights over time. When you reach the upper end of a given rep range, then it's probably time to add a little bit more weight. That said, figuring just how much weight you should be lifting is largely a matter of learning how your own body responds and adjust accordingly. This means that you can put on muscle even by lifting "light" weights. That is, you can incorporate high reps with relatively low weights, or low reps with heavy weights. Those lighter weights can produce just as much muscle growth as the heavier weights do as long as you train to near failure. Recently I dialed back my use of heavier weights during my biceps exercises in favor of lighter, more focused exercises. To do this you will definitely have to leave your ego at the door, but you might find the results to be pretty amazing. The key is maintaining a good mind-muscle connection without just heaving the weights around.
So if you want to build muscle you have to ask yourself how much weight is too much. It will do you absolutely no good to lift heavy weights but not pay attention to how you are doing it. Your goal should be to find the heaviest weight that still allows you to control it properly.
Talk to you tomorrow God willing!
